nottingham and c



C. A. NOTTINGHAM AND C. TUHEY.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLATION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, I919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES: IHVENTDRS.

FARL Allow/Mamm- CARL WHEY T TDRNEY.

Patenteci m 31, 1921.

C. A. NOTTINGHAM AND C. TUHEY.

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLATION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, I9I9.

Patented May 31, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

mus/11012;. I 'PHRL H. NOTTINGHAM.

CARI. Tum?! w/TNEssEs:

riwy m 46 'TTNEY.

snare CARL A. NOTTINGHAM. AND CARL TUHEY, OF MUNCIE, INDLANA,

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN NOTTINGHAM PROCESS COMPANY, A CORPO- RATION OF KENTUCKY.

ASSIGNORS, BY

APPARATUS FOR DISTILLATION.

3 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed may 16, 1919. Serial No. 297,502.

T 0 all w from it may concern:

Be it known that we, CARL A. NOTTING- HAM and CARL TUHEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Muncie, in the county of Delaware and State ofInd1ana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Distillation, of ,which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto improvements in apparatus for. the destructive distillation of carbonaceous substances such as corncobs or analogous ligneous materials.

We are aware that many inventions in methods and apparatus for destructive dis:

tillation of wood and like substances have heretofore been patented, but we are not aware that any apparatus has been devised for the distillation of corn-cobs. I

By reason of; the comparatively low moisture contents of corn-cobs and of their peculiar composition and structure, as distinguished from wood and other ligneous materials, the present invention proceeds along certain lines in conformity with the nature and peculiarities of said material.

The objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus for the continuous destructive distillation of corn-cobsin volume and quantity suflicient for the. production of distillates in quantity to make profitable.

the practice of such distillation. Further purposes of the invention are to provide an apparatus by which the maximum quantity of distillates may be recovered at'the minimum expenditure of time and expense.

The ,foregoing objects of our invention are accomplished by the mechanism embodying our invention and which comprises the several parts and combinations thereof described in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is defined in the appended claims. In the drawings, the several parts of the of theinlet valve and its connected parts taken on the llne 44; and seen, in direction indicated bythe arrow 43 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detached detail view showing the meeting ends of the divided shaft of thet conveyer that operates in the lower reducing means or a vacuum pump.

which is adapted to the distillation of corricobs 1n large quantities, the apparatus com prises a pair of horizontal cylindrical re-' torts made preferably of sheet steel and having a d ameter of about 'eight inches. The retort A, supportedinthe upper portion of a heating furnace presently to be described, is about twelve feet in length, the closed ends of same being provided with ournal bearings A and'A". A similarly constructed retort B is disposed inalinement with and at spaced distance below the retort A, and it is provided at its closed In the mechanism herein described, and.

Patented May 31, 1921.

F'g.6 is a detached view of suction proi ends with the' journal bearings B and B 1 At the forward end of retort A is arranged an upwardly directed sleeve A upon whlch is secured the valve casing C. A detail view of this valve casing and the valve n mechanism therein, is seen inF-ig. 4. .This

casing is of cast metal, and has the inlet port 15 and the discharge port 16. Secured hasits' three similar arms spaced equidistant and they are of such length and their peripheral faces are'of such curvature that they fit slidingly in the machined circular while both the inletpont 15 and the outlet port 16 are continuously open for .the. re-

ceiving. and discharging of contents ininvention are identified in the different views, by suitable characters of reference.

Figure 1 represents a. central longitudinal vertical sectional view of our apparatus, parts thereof being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken the direction indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 4 is a detached enlarged detail view on the line 8+3, in Fig. 1, and as seen in tended to pass through the-said. casing, the

bore of the casing 0. It is apparent that as Y valve ,is at all times closed against escape through its ports of the volatile contents of the retort A. Anadditional function of the ends of the arms of the valve and which have the angular cutting edgesC is to out .or break the cob mass as the said edges pass the edge of. the port 15.

A hopper D of suitableform and construction is arranged aboveithevalve basing C so that its contents may flow directly into the port 15. Rising from the rearward porshort distance at its forward end beyond the end of the retort A and a substantial distance from the furnace. The resultant exposure of the walls of the retort B will lower the temperature of the treated material in the retort before it is discharged to contact with the air and lessen the tendency for it to be burned when it is exposed to the air. A sleeve B is secured to its under side adjacent its end and the valve casing J is se cured to this sleeve. A shaft 19 that is journaled in suitable bearings provided in the sides of the said casing has secured thereon a valve J of construction identical with that of the valve C and which valve J opens and closes ports 20 and 21, in a manner similar to the action of valve C with reference to ports 15 and 16. Openings A and B in the retort A and B, respectively, afiord communication between said retorts and the said valve casings.

G designates a conduit which provides communication between the retorts at their rearward portions through suitable openings therein. In the retort A is arranged a spiral conveyer F to drive contents to. the rear .of the retort, the endsof its shaft F being journaled in the journals A and A In the retort B is arranged a spiral con.- veyer H to drive the contents forwardly in the retort B, its shaft being of divided construction. The inner ends of the shaft sections H and H appear as shown in the detail view in Fig. 5. These shaft sections which have their ends j ournaled in the bearings B and B as shown in Fig. 1, are actuatedby suitable driving connections to be presently described.

The retorts above described are contained in a masonry furnace K of structure and form substantially as shown, and which is provided with a horizontal partition 22 so arranged that the heat (preferably generated from gas or petroleum) introduced into the forward portionof the chamber K and directly underneath retort B, passes to the rear and up through opening K and into the, chamber K the draft or vent for the furnace consisting of the chimney K.

' By this arrangement, the maximum temperature of the furnace heat, is exerted at the frontal portion of the retort B, and the gradually lessening temperature is exerted ea ers toward the rear portion of retort B. The heat delivered into the chamber K of still lower temperature intensity, is of a continuing lower degree toward the frontal portion of retort A, so that while the cob mass as introduced into the retort A is at first subjected to a comparatively low degree of heat, it is subjected to the maximium degree of heat as it reaches the end of its travel at the forward end of retort B.

Connections for the transmission of power from a driving shaft 24 that has the pulleys 25 and 26, may consist of belts 27 and 28 running over a pulley 29 that is secured on shaft F and a slightly smaller pulley 30 that is secured on the shaft H respectively. The diameter of the spiral conveyers F and H, is about six and one half inches, the inside diameter. of the retorts being about eight inches. The pitch of the two said spirals being opposed, it is apparent that although the conveyer shafts are rotated in the same direction, the conveyer F causes a shifting of the retort contents to the rear of the retort, and the conveyer H causes a shifting of the contents of retort B forwardly. To provide against warping of the shaft of conveyer H, the shaft, as hereinbefore described, is made in two sections. To actuate the conveyer H most effectively,

the power of shaft section H is transmitted to the shaft section by a link belt 31 running from pulley 32 of shaft H over a pulley 33 of a shaft 34; and by a link belt 35 running from pulley 36 of shaft 34 over pulley 37 that is secured to shaft H The size and arrangement of these connections are such that the conveyer F is operated at a slpeed slightly less than that of the conveyer For the continuous rotation of the valves C and J there may be arranged'a belt 40 from a pulley 41 of driving shaft 24, to run over a pulley 42 that is' secured on valve shaft 17. A belt 43 from apulley 44 on shaft 17 running over a pulley 45 that-is secured to shaft 19 causes the rotalllltD tion of the valves C and J lfn the present arrangement these valves are. operated at the same speed.

The valve C operates in such manner that while permitting the cob-contents"of the hopper D to flow freely, it permits only a determinate or definite quantity to enter the retort; thus assuring a uniformity of the flow or feed of the. cob mass into the retort h.

the valve arm passes the edge lee of the port a quota of the cob mass is retained between the two'arms of the valve,

to be discharged through port 16, whence it v falls into the retort A. This cob-mass, as it from the retorts through the conduits proceeds in its travel toward the opening at condu t G, 1s so afl'ected by'the heat surroundmg the retort, that it yields its volatile elements in the form of a vaporized mixture the receiving chamber presently to be referred to, The said cob-mass, under the efiect of said temperature and of the propulsion and churning by the conveyer, is moist and pulpy as it travels to the opening at G where it falls into the-rear portion of retort B. In the continued propulsion and churning of the mass and in its movement for- Ward in the retort B it continues to yield its volatile contents in the form of gases that are caused to pass upwardly through open- I If ing G and through the copduit E. The cobcontent.

mass as it reaches the forward portion of the retort B; will have assumed the form of charcoal. grade, being flufly and free from moisture.

This charcoal is of'the fi-nest The action of the valve J is .to discharge this dry distillate through the port 21 into a"suitab1e'closed container 46 from which the charcoal may be taken into the open air after a proper length of time.

The furnace shown herein is arranged for I between the transverse plates L in the tank.

the use of fuel, gas introduced'through openings K into the combustion chamber K Valve control means (not shown) render possible the regulation of the intensity of the-heat flames at the burners 47, 4:8 and 4:9.

The gases passing through the conduit E are heavily laden with the volatile parts yielded from the cob mass, and the purpose of the construction, combination and .ar-

'rangemenft of parts now to be described, is

to efi'ect the condensation of said gases: We designate this construction as a receiving chamber or housing for the several parts that constitute means the function of which is to cool and divide the gases into the condensable and non-condensable portions, and

i to reduce orbreak up into its constituent elements, theccondensable gases.

L these uprights may consistof boards of wood or composition, and secured on their inner sides aresheet' metal plates L and L These sheet metal plates are preferably of copper as th s metal withstands the efie ts is a free and continuous flow of the (gases In this part of the distillation, two crude products of the gases without corrosion. The lower edges of the uprights L and L rest on the top edges of the walls of the. rectangular box-like container or tank L the bottom edges of the plates L extending slightly 1 below the lower edges of theuprights. This construction. makes a smooth and unobstructed surface for the distillates that meet the plates L The temperature of these plates U is maintained at a low degree by a continuous flowv of water that passes through perforations in the pipe L".

This pipe L which is arranged directly above the member L is provided with a suitable valve L by which the quantity flow of water from the source .of' supply, may be regulated. Itwill be understoodthat at the ends of'the housing plates L are similar transverse plates L that constitute a closedhousing for the jseveral parts constituting the condensing means. At spaced distances apart longitudinally and; extending transversely of the condenser plates L are baflle plates L, L and L arranged in the upright positions as shown.

The gases -entering through cohduit E- pass upwardly and over the top of plate L thence downwardly and below plate L The parts of the gases that are precipitated on the cold plates L flow and drip readily from the said platesinto the water contained in the tank. .This process of separation ofthe distillates from the gases is repeated as the gases proceed in their forced travel through the spaces or chambers between the. several bafile plates; the dist1l4 lates settling in the several compartments be delivered to pipe lines for use as illuminating gas, or for any other commercial purpose desired. Water that 1s contained in the tank L has its level at the dotted line,

above the top edges of the baflie plate's L and below the conduit E. The outlet pipe M is retained closed by a trap arrangement M Carried in suspension in the water is a crude pyroligneous-acid that is taken oil? through pipe The distillates found in the compartments comprise tar and creosote distillates ranging in consistency, of varying thickness andtexture; the distillates of the heavier specific gravity being. found in the compartments commencing with the COIIl-,

partment 1. At the bottom of each of the Q i compartments are, provided discharge pipes,

each with a stop cock P, through which the liquid distillatesjmay'be drawn off. 7

Through the pipe N is operated a suction produced 'by a suitable vacuum pump T which besides affording a continuous suction through the conduit E, draws from the condenser, the non-condensable gases as above described.

The apparatus described has a capacity for handling a sufficient quantity of corn cobs within a given period of continuous operation to a'fiord rgsults of decided commercial value. From the corn cob mass treated by our process of distillation in this apparatus there is yielded divers distillates, including charcoal. I I

While in this specification, we'have shown our apparatus in'the form as a separate unit, complete, and with capacity for continuous distillation of a certain quantityv of corncob raw material; the invention is em bodied in such manner thatincreased ca- .pacity may be developed by the arrangement of a series of the machinesadapted to be actuated by a common means of power, and a common source of heat and suction.

Whilewe have described our apparatus as peculiarly adapted for the destructive distillation of carbonaceous substances such as corn-cobs, or analogous ligneous materials,

the same is applicable to the distillation of other substances as, for example, oil bearing shales.

In showing our invention embodied in what we consider the preferred form or con-r struction, combination andarrangement of parts for carrying same into effect, we are aware-that minor changes maybe made in the detailing and arrangement and construction of the several parts, within the range and scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. f

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

in combination, a plurality of superposed retorts, inlet and discharge means at alternate ends of said retorts, means in the first inlet and in the last discharge means to pass material while preventing the passage of gaseous currents, the intermediate discharge and inlet means providing communication between retorts, means to subject sald retorts throughout the entire extent of their heated portions to temperatures gradually increasing from a point adjacent the first inlet to a point adjacent the final discharge means, conveying means adapted to convey and agitate material from the inlet to the discharge means of each retort and an outlet for the distilled product.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination, a furnace, a pair of superposed retorts extending within and projecting from the front end of said furnace, inlet 1. lln an apparatus of the class described,

navas'ze the furnace, means to allow escape of products of combustion adjacent the forward end of the upper retort, conveying means in said retorts and means to allow escape of products of distillation.

3. In an apparatus for destructive distillation, the combination of a primary retort, a secondary retort located below said'primary retort, a communicating passageway between the said retorts at the rear portions of the same, a furnace inclosing said retorts, achimney at the forward end of the furnace, a bame in said furnace between said retorts joined to the front wall of the furnace and terminating adjacent the rear end thereof, means to apply heat to the forward end of said lower retort whereby the degree of heat about said retorts will gradually decrease toward the rear end of the lower retort, and from the rear end toward the forward end of the upper retort, means to introduce material into the forward end of the upper retort, means to discharge material from the forward end of the lower retort and means to permit escape of gaseous products of dis tillation.

4:. In an apparatus for destructive distillation, the combination ef a primary retort, a secondary retort locatedv below and in alinement with the primaryretort, a communicating passageway between the said retorts at the rear portions of same, a furnace in which said retorts are contained, a

chimney for said furnace at its forward end, a horizontal partition in said furnace between said retorts to provide a lower heating chamber and an upper heating chamber there being an opening between said heatof the secondary retort at its forward end,

a condensing chamber, a conduit leading from the rearward portion of the primary retort intothe condensing chamber to convey the vaporized contents of the retorts into the condensing chamber, means in the condensing chamber to cool said vaporized contents, a settling tank for receiving from said cooling means the distillates of said vaporized parts, a valve mechanism for providing a continuous feed of substance under treatment into the forward portion of the primary retort, means operable in said retorts to agitate and shift the cob substance through and fromthe primary retort and through the secondary retort to the discharge cavity, a suction producing means 10 and power transmitting connections between the conveyer means and valve mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures. 4

CARL A.'NOTTINGHAM.

CARL TUHEY. 

